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If the housing tax for main residences belongs to the past, the property tax, is still relevant for owners. Every year, they must pay it if they do not meet the conditions for an exemption.
This is a hard blow, obviously, since this tax increases from year to year. The recent increases are historic and weaken the finances of owners. SO, Many of them consider that it is not fair that they have to pay it alone. For the president of the National Union of Real Estate Owners (UNPI), Sylvain Grataloup, tenants must participate.
Will tenants have to pay property tax?
Today more than ever, property tax is a source of financing for municipalities. Formerly, they also received housing tax. But since the disappearance of the latter, they have fallen back on taxes for owners. A few years ago, the latter represented 30% of their budget. Today it represents 70%.
Currently the exclusive responsibility of owners, this tax could evolve to involve tenants. In 2024, this tax will see a further increase, with increases of up to 14% in certain cities, such as Annecy.
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However, for Sylvain Grataloup, it is unfair that only owners bear the brunt, while tenants also benefit from public services, such as transport and leisure infrastructure.
A reflection on changing the property tax
This reflection is based on a simple principle. Those who benefit from public services should also participate in their financing, whether they are owners or tenants. Sylvain Grataloup emphasizes that certain charges, such as the household waste removal tax, are already shared across rental charges, and he proposes extending this model to the property tax.
The National Union of Real Estate Owners (UNPI) thus envisages a “collective effort”, where everyone, whether owner or tenantwould contribute to public spending. This could make it possible to put the spotlight back on tax fairness, which has been undermined by the disappearance of the housing tax.
Better justice for all?
For Sylvain Grataloup, reintroducing a form of tenant participation via property tax would restore this justice. The aim would be to ease the burden on ownerswho currently alone bear the successive increases in this tax. Without forgetting better social equity. So that everyone who benefits from services pays for them in the same way.
Grataloup also underlines the importance of landlords in the economy. Indeed, they participate in the renovation of housing and support the French real estate stock. Unlike other forms of wealth, such as yachts or works of art, which often escape similar taxation, Real estate owners are subject to significant tax constraints.
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This proposal is therefore part of a tax fairness approach, in a context where local infrastructure needs continue to grow. For the year 2024, in any case, owners must pay the property tax alone. But they hope for developments in the years to come. Perhaps parliamentarians will discuss it in the National Assembly. But, for the moment, it’s not a hot topic for them.
